Rig Veda 7.21.1: Mandala 7, Sukta 21, Mantra 1
Sukta 7.21
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
असावि देवं गोऋजीकमन्धो न्यस्मिन्निन्द्रो जनुषेमुवोच । बोधामसि त्वा हर्यश्व यज्ञैर्बोधा नः स्तोममन्धसो मदेषु ॥
asā́vi deváṃ goṛ́jīkam ándho nyàsmin índro jánuṣem uvoca | bodhā́masi tvā haryáśva yajñáir bódhā naḥ stómaṃ ándhaso mádeṣu ||
असावि देवं गोऋजीकमन्धो न्यस्मिन्निन्द्रो जनुषेमुवोच । बोधामसि त्वा हर्यश्व यज्ञैर्बोधा नः स्तोममन्धसो मदेषु ॥
Word by Word
- असावि
- was pressed out (was expressed)VerbAorist (s-aorist), Ātmanepada, 3rd person singularRole Kriyā (finite verb of the clause)Root √सु (सुनोति) / √सू (सुवति) ‘to press/express (Soma)’
- देवम्
- the godNounMasculine, Accusative, SingularRole KarmaRoot देव (prātipadika)
- गोऋजीकम्
- Go-ṛjīka (a specific epithet/name, traditionally of Soma)Adjective (epithet)Masculine, Accusative, SingularRole Viśeṣaṇa of ‘देवम्’Root गो-ऋजीक (prātipadika; epithet)
- अन्धः
- the Soma-juiceNounNeuter, Nominative, SingularRole Kartā (of ‘असावि’)Root अन्धस् (prātipadika)
- नि
- down; into; firmlyIndeclinablePreverb (directional/intensifying)Role Upasarga (modifies the verb ‘अस्मि’)Root नि (upasarga)
- अस्मिन्
- in this (one/this place/this rite)PronounMasculine/Neuter, Locative, SingularRole AdhikaraṇaRoot इदम् (sarvanāma-prātipadika)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounMasculine, Nominative, SingularRole Kartā (of ‘उवोच’)Root इन्द्र (prātipadika)
- जनुषे
- for birth; for (his) begetting/manifestationNounNeuter, Dative, SingularRole Sampradāna (purpose/for the sake of)Root जनु (prātipadika) / (also analyzable as √जन् with dative sense)
- उवोच
- said; spokeVerbPerfect, Parasmaipada, 3rd person singularRole Kriyā (finite verb of the clause)Root √वच् (वक्ति) ‘to speak’
- बोधामसि
- we take notice of; we awaken to; we recognizeVerbPresent, Parasmaipada, 1st person pluralRole Kriyā (finite verb; with object ‘त्वा’)Root √बुध् (बोधति) ‘to notice, awaken, perceive’
- त्वा
- youPronounAccusative, Singular (enclitic)Role KarmaRoot युष्मद् (2nd person pronoun)
- हर्यश्व
- O you of tawny steeds (Indra)Noun/EpithetMasculine, Vocative, SingularRole SambodhanaRoot हरि-अश्व (prātipadika; vocative compound epithet)
- यज्ञैः
- with sacrificesNounMasculine, Instrumental, PluralRole KaraṇaRoot यज्ञ (prātipadika)
- बोध
- take notice! awaken!VerbImperative, Parasmaipada, 2nd person singularRole Kriyā (injunction)Root √बुध् (बोधति)
- नः
- of us; ourPronounGenitive/Accusative, Plural (enclitic); here best as GenitiveRole Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (possessor of ‘स्तोमम्’)Root अस्मद् (1st person pronoun)
- स्तोमम्
- praise-hymnNounMasculine, Accusative, SingularRole Karma (of ‘बोध’)Root स्तोम (prātipadika)
- अन्धसः
- of Soma-juiceNounNeuter, Genitive, SingularRole Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (source/pertaining-to; with ‘मदेṣu’)Root अन्धस् (prātipadika)
- मदेषु
- in the exhilarations; in the intoxicationsNounMasculine, Locative, PluralRole AdhikaraṇaRoot मद (prātipadika)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-wise): असावि | देवम् | गोऋजीकम् | अन्धः | नि | अस्मिन् | इन्द्रः | जनुषे | उवोच || बोधामसि | त्वा | हर्यश्व | यज्ञैः | बोध | नः | स्तोमम् | अन्धसः | मदेषु । Notable: ‘न्यस्मिन्’ = ‘नि + अस्मिन्’ (y-sandhi). ‘जनुषे’ is dative sg. of neut. ‘जनु’ (Vedic usage ‘for birth/for manifestation’). Accent marks in the input are preserved in the pada forms as given
- analysis is morphological, not a full accent derivation
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Soma (divine pressing), which ‘wins the cows/light’, has been expressed; in it Indra has spoken by his very birth. We awaken to you, O tawny-horsed one, by sacrifices; awaken to our hymn in the ecstasies of Soma.
Inner meaning
Soma here is the distilled bliss-substance of consciousness (andhas) that ‘wins the Light’ (goṛjīka): it brings forth the rays of knowledge (go). In that clarified delight, Indra is ‘born’—the illumined Mind arises naturally when bliss and purity are pressed out of mixed experience. ‘Indra has spoken’ indicates an inner revelation/command from the awakened higher mentality. The sacrificers ‘awaken’ (bodhāmasi) Indra by yajña: sustained offering of attention, will, and self-giving. They also ask Indra to awaken to their stoma—so that the mantra-formation becomes a channel for illumination—especially in the ‘madesu’, the intensities/raptures of Soma where consciousness becomes plastic, luminous, and receptive.
Universal truth
When delight is purified into a higher bliss, illumination is spontaneously born; through disciplined offering and mantra, the higher intelligence awakens and responds, guiding life by inner revelation.
Themes
soma-ritual, invocation-to-awaken, revelatory-speech, light-winning
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 7.21.2, RV 7.21.3, RV 7.21.4, RV 7.20.10
Family tradition
Maṇḍala 7’s Vasiṣṭha hymns often link Soma (delight) with Indra’s awakening power and the right ordering of inner forces.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision here is of illumination born from purified delight: a key Aurobindonian theme—Ananda as a basis for higher knowledge.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Haryaśva (tawny-horsed), Go-jit (light-winner, implied by goṛjīka soma), Maghavān (bounteous, in nearby verse context)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Receives Soma; becomes strong to break the coverers and release light and waters.
Inner power
Awakened luminous intelligence responding to mantra and offering; the revelatory voice that ‘speaks’ within purified bliss.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing chant (pavamāna/pressing context broadly), Indra-invocation during Soma offerings
असा॑वि दे॒वं गोऋ॑जीक॒मन्धो॒ न्य॑स्मि॒न्निन्द्रो॑ ज॒नुषे॑मुवोच । बोधा॑मसि त्वा हर्यश्व य॒ज्ञैर्बोधा॑ न॒: स्तोम॒मन्ध॑सो॒ मदे॑षु ॥
असा॑वि । दे॒वम् । गोऽऋ॑जीकम् । अन्धः॑ । नि । अ॒स्मि॒न् । इन्द्रः॑ । ज॒नुषा॑ । ई॒म् । उ॒वो॒च॒ । बोधा॑मसि । त्वा॒ । ह॒रि॒ऽअ॒श्व॒ । य॒ज्ञैः । बोध॑ । नः॒ । स्तोम॑म् । अन्ध॑सः । मदे॑षु ॥
asāvi | devam | go--ṛjīkam | andhaḥ | ni | asmin | indraḥ | januṣā | īm | uvoca | bodhāmasi | tvā | haru-aśva | yajñaiḥ | bodha | naḥ | stomam | andhasaḥ | madeṣu
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4 x ~11 syllables
Invocatory and awakening; alternating lift and settling suitable for ‘bodha/bodhāmasi’ refrains.
Stimulates alertness and receptivity; supports a shift from dullness to luminous attention.
- अन्धः (andhaḥ)
- Literal: Soma-juice, pressing. Symbolic: distilled delight/bliss-substance of consciousness
- गोऋजीकम् (goṛjīkam)
- Literal: cow/light-winning. Symbolic: that which wins the rays of knowledge; brings illumination
- असावि (asāvi)
- Literal: has been pressed/expressed. Symbolic: inner extraction: separating pure delight from mixed vital stuff
- इन्द्रः जनुषा (indraḥ januṣā)
- Literal: Indra by birth. Symbolic: illumined Mind arising as a natural emergence in purified consciousness
- बोधामसि (bodhāmasi)
- Literal: we awaken (to you). Symbolic: active turning of awareness; invocation that opens the mind
- हर्यश्व (haryaśva)
- Literal: tawny-horsed. Symbolic: illumination carried by dynamic life-energies under divine control
- स्तोमम् (stomam)
- Literal: hymn of praise. Symbolic: mantric formulation shaping consciousness
- मदेṣu (madeṣu)
- Literal: in the raptures/intoxications. Symbolic: ecstatic intensities where consciousness expands beyond habitual limits
Opening of RV 7.21: Soma pressed; invitation to Indra to awaken to the stoma during soma-mada
At or after Soma pressing; when inviting Indra to partake and empower the rite
Offering Soma; reciting stotra to ‘wake’ Indra and intensify the rite’s force
Before meditation, ‘press’ the soma inward: recall a pure joy; chant to awaken the higher mind to speak within that joy.
asāvi from √su ‘press, distill’ (soma) also suggests ‘expressing’ hidden delight. √budh ‘wake, know’ (bodhāmasi, bodha) ties knowledge to awakening. go- in goṛjīka is read as ‘ray/light’ (common Vedic polyvalence: cow ↔ light), supporting the inner sense: soma releases illuminations that summon Indra’s revelatory speech.
Bodha (awakening/knowledge), Soma-mada (inspired ecstasy), Go (light/illumination)
Yajña as the method of aligning human action with cosmic order; awakening Indra establishes right discernment in action.
‘Indra has spoken’—inner word as satya-vāk when born from purified consciousness.
Birth of Indra in Soma: emergence of a higher principle from refined substance.
Integral Vedism (Ananda → Vijnana/illumined mind trajectory)
Pressing Soma = concentrating experience to extract pure delight; tawny horses = energized life-force carrying the awakened mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma releases the divine state in which Indra ‘speaks’—the mythologem of revelation through soma: delight becomes the medium for the descent of the illumined Word and force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √budh (wake/know) relates to PIE *bʰewdʰ- ‘be awake, notice’ (cf. Eng. bid, albeit debated; clearer in Germanic ‘bode’). √su ‘press’ is Indo-Iranian technical; √vac ‘speak’ (uvoca) reflects PIE *wekʷ- ‘speak’ (Lat. vox).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi-community awakens toward Indra through yajña, and asks Indra to awaken toward their stoma within soma’s inspired states—mutual recognition: human offering calls divine manifestation; divine manifestation illumines human speech.
Awaken the illumined mind within purified joy; listen inwardly for the ‘spoken’ guidance.
viśuddha (mantra/inner hearing) and ājñā (illumination)
4–4–6 breathing (inhale–hold–exhale) for 6 rounds; chant on the exhale to deepen ‘andhaḥ’ as inner nectar.
Wakeful, luminous, subtly ecstatic (soma-mada without agitation).
Begin by invoking a calm joy; chant once or thrice; then sit and attend to inner speech arising in that joy—brief, clear, directive, without mental strain.
Maintain Vedic accents; emphasize udātta on índro, bódhāmasi, haryáśva; keep svarita glides subtle.
Let ‘bódhāmasi… bódha naḥ’ be slightly brighter in pitch and articulation, marking the awakening call.
गोऋजीकम्: articulate ṛ clearly (go-ṛ-jī-kam), not ‘ri’., अन्धो/अन्धः: keep nasal + dh aspirate distinct; avoid flattening to ‘ando’., हर्यश्व: pronounce as har-ya-śva with clear śva cluster.
Awakening, clear, slightly ringing; avoid heaviness to match ‘bodha’.
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